Tina Fey

'''Tina Fey''' has proved that a brainy woman could be sexy. A popular crush among political junkies, cultural literates, and highbrow frat boys across America, this proud, self-described “supernerd” first came onto the scene, first, as a writer and later, as a cast member of ''Saturday Night Live'' (NBC, 1975- ) where she shown brightly as the sarcastic Weekend Update co-anchor to Jimmy Fallon, and later, to Amy Poehler.

Tina Fey has proved that a brainy woman could be sexy. A popular crush among political junkies, cultural literates, and highbrow frat boys across America, this proud, self-described “supernerd” first came onto the scene, first, as a writer and later, as a cast member of Saturday Night Live (NBC, 1975- ) where she shown brightly as the sarcastic Weekend Update co-anchor to Jimmy Fallon, and later, to Amy Poehler. After proving her mettle as big screen scribe of the hit Lindsay Lohan flick, “Mean Girls” (2004), Fey spread her wings and left the “S.N.L.” nest to write and star in the hit NBC sitcom, “30 Rock” (2006- ). She won an Emmy award for the series in 2008.

Tina Fey Biography

Early life

Born Elizabeth Stamatina Fey on born May 18, 1970 in Upper Darby, PA, an affluent Philadelphia suburb, this multi-talented performer developed her appreciation for comedy at an early age. Fey recalled her education beginning at the age of four, when her parents snuck her in to see Mel Brookes’ comic classic, “Young Frankenstein” (1974). Intellectually inclined, not surprisingly, Fey excelled in academics. In 1988, Fey enrolled at the University of Virginia, where she eventually earned a degree in drama. After graduating in 1992, Fey moved to Chicago where she supported herself as a clerk at the YMCA. Working at the Y by day, Fey spent her nights taking classes at The Second City Training Center.

Early career

It was during this period that Fey took what she later described as an “amateurish” stab at stand-up comedy. Her hard work honing her comedic gifts eventually paid off. By 1994, Fey was invited to join The Second City’s cast – a thrilling accomplishment for anyone who valued American comedy. It was there that Fey established herself as a member of The Upright Citizen’s Brigade – an improvisational comedy troupe that included Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz (both of whom, Fey would reunite with later on SNL). Fey quickly developed a comedic partnership with troupe member Rachel Dratch. The pair's show "Dratch & Fey" garnered rave reviews in its 1999 debut at Second City and its 2000 run at New York's Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater.

Saturday Night Live (1998)

Fey’s hard work in the Citizen’s Brigade did not go unnoticed. In 1997, she landed the break of her career when she was invited to join the writing staff of SNL by the iconic show’s then-head writer, Adam McKay. Despite being one of the only female writers on staff, Fey proved her worth in the competitive, testosterone-laden environment of the writers’ room. Fey’s star rose even higher a year later, when she crossed over as a performer. Fey signed on to become an official cast member of the show in 1998 while maintaining double duty as a writer, proving herself to be as polished and confident a performer in front of the cameras as she was behind it.

In 1999, Fey was promoted to head writer – the first female one in the history of “S.N.L.” Coincidentally, it was around this same period that Fey found and refined her trademark style of faux-serious delivery. As co-anchor of Weekend Update, the show’s long-running newscast parody, the feisty Fey was paired with the more frivolous Jimmy Fallon, who provided an ideal comedic foil, beginning in the 2000-01 season. Her assured and skillful delivery of the news was appreciated by fans, while her mixture of sparkle and sophistication balanced out Fallon's boyish energy. Editorial comments like her passionate and honestly funny rant against Hugh Hefner's harem were a welcome addition to the show, offering a fresh perspective on a series and in a genre known for being overwhelmingly male dominated. After Fallon’s departure in 2004, Fey was joined in her anchoring duties by Amy Poehler, marking the first two-woman anchor team in the bit’s history.

Mean Girls and 30 Rock TV series

In 2004, Fey expanded her resume by writing the script and co-starring (as a teacher) in the semi-autobiographical big screen comedy, Mean Girls – a funny if somewhat familiar exploration of in-fighting amid a clique of supposedly popular high school girls. Made for a relatively modest $25 million, the Lindsay Lohan vehicle was a bona fide hit, grossing nearly $130 million worldwide. Buoyed by the box office success of “Mean Girls,” Fey quickly found herself in hot demand. Landing a development deal with NBC, Fey unveiled her firstborn production in 2006 – the hotly anticipated fall sitcom, 30 Rock.

By the end of 2006, 30 Rock topped several publications’ "year’s best" lists, including LA Weekly, The New York Times and The San Francisco Chronicle. On Sept. 16, 2007, 30 Rock executive producer-creator-star Fey received the ultimate vindication for a rocky, albeit ultimately successful year: an Emmy award for Outstanding Comedy Series. And for her acting talents – which she herself felt insecure about – she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy TV Series in early 2008. In July, she was nominated for an Emmy in Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her work in 30 Rock.

In 2010 Tina won the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actress in a Comedy Series fpr her work in 30 Rock.

Tina Fey Personal life and causes

Tina is married to Jeff Richmond, composer on 30 Rock. They met at Chicago's Second City and dated for seven years before marrying in a Greek Orthodox ceremony on June 3, 2001. The couple have two daughters: Alice Zenobia Richmond (born September 10, 2005) and Penelope Athena Richmond (born August 10, 2011). Alice was born during Fey's tenure at SNL. Fey returned to the show on October 22, saying "I had to get back to work. NBC has me under contract; the baby and I have only a verbal agreement." In April 2009, Tina and Jeff purchased a $3.4 million apartment in the Upper West Side in New York City.

Tina and husband Jeff are also supporters of Mercy Corps, a global relief and development organization, in their campaign to end world hunger. Fey narrated a video for Mercy Corps's Action Center in New York City, describing hunger as a symptom of many wider world problems. She also supports the Love Our Children USA organization, which fights violence against children, who named her among their Mothers Who Make a Difference. in 2009. She is the 2009 national spokesperson for the Light the Night Walk, which benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In June 2010, it was announced she would receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011.